Electricity: Glossary

A

acid

a chemical that is sour in nature and reacts with certain metals to form salts

amp or ampere

the amount of electrons flowing past a given point in a second

atom

the building block of matter

C

circuit

a circular route for electricity to follow

closed circuit

a circuit that allows electricity to flow

conductor

a material that gives up its electrons easily

connection

something that is connected

D

disrupt

interfere

E

electron

the negative charged particles of an atom

F

factories

a place where products are made

G

generator

a machine that creates electricity

I

insulators

a material that does not give up electrons easily

L

load

the object attached to electricity that is intended to use the electricity to run - a toy, a vacuum, etc

M

mineral

a naturally occurring material that is not animal or plant - found in rocks

moisture

water or other liquid in the form of vapor; wetness

N

nerves

the part of the body that carries messages to and from the brain

neutron

the neutral charged particles of an atom

O

ohms

drag or friction in a circuit

open circuit

a circuit with a break in the connection - electricity does not flow

P

parallel circuit

a circuit that is wired to allow electricity to flow even in the event of an open circuit

processes

actions

proton

the positive charged particles of an atom

R

resources

natural materials that exist in a given area

S

self-contained

complete in itself

series circuit

a type of circuit in which the loads are all lined up and require each load to work in order for electricity to flow on to the next one

static electricity

a temporary type of electricity that is created when surfaces rub together and transfer electrons

T

turbines

a machine which uses blades that are turned by a form of energy to spin or power a load

V

volt

the amount of push behind the electricity

W

watts

voltage times amps

wind farms

a special farm using windmills to generate electricity